SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport
Cumbernauld (A80 Upgrade)
To ask the Scottish Executive how the community of Cumbernauld will benefit from the decision to follow the on-line route for the upgrade of the A80. (S2O-10939)
The community of Cumbernauld will benefit from that significant investment through reduced traffic noise, improved quality in local watercourses and better access between local roads and the M80.
Will the minister indicate whether consideration is being given to the possibility of an additional lane, which is something that is being discussed locally? If a major change of that sort was made, would it require a new public inquiry or could it just go ahead by ministerial decision?
The project will be taken forward as detailed in the previous local public inquiry. That was the recommendation that we received and on which we accepted the reporter's findings, and we have no plans to change that position.
I am sure that I speak for the people of Cumbernauld when I say that they would not wish the Executive to consider an additional lane. I await a response from the minister on the subject of bunding and fencing. The people of Cumbernauld want 3m-high bunding along the line of the road as it passes through Cumbernauld. Can the minister give me any further information on that?
First, I apologise to Cathie Craigie for the length of time that it has taken to respond to her earlier inquiry. I hope to be able to provide a full technical answer to her points later today. There are some issues to be addressed and I respect the perspective that she has given on that issue on behalf of the residents who have raised it. I understand that the matter was fully examined in the context of the local public inquiry, at which evidence was led about noise. I understand that the Executive's response was made by Dr Bernadette McKell, an acknowledged expert in the area, and I hope to share the findings of Dr McKell's work with Cathie Craigie later today.
National Transport Strategy
To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the final draft of the national transport strategy and its analysis of responses to the recent consultation. (S2O-10956)
Scotland's first national transport strategy will be published before the end of this year. At the same time, an independent analysis of the responses to the consultation that was carried out as part of the development of the strategy will be published.
I draw the minister's attention to the Executive's website, which is still promising a publication date in October, although close reading of my Business Bulletin informs me that today is 2 November. We all look forward to publication of the strategy, but can the minister tell us whether, in the period of delay before publication, there will be time to analyse the strategy in the light of the Stern report's recommendations on climate change?
I am grateful to Patrick Harvie for keeping me up to date. I must ensure that the website is fully updated after question time this afternoon. I can assure him that the broad spread of the science behind climate change has been taken into consideration in the national transport strategy. A key aspect of the Stern report, which was published on Monday, is that it makes an economic analysis of the science, and in that regard it is an important piece of work. I can also assure Mr Harvie that a voluntary strategic environmental assessment was undertaken in relation to the national transport strategy, which I hope will assist in the overall consideration of the environmental pressures that we all undoubtedly face.
In his review of the national transport strategy, will the minister take into account the live petition from the association of Caithness community councils, which seeks a strategic root-and-branch review of the provision of rail services from Caithness to Inverness? Will he perhaps come and visit the petitioners by taking the train from Inverness to Caithness with me?
That is a kind offer and I will see what I can do about it.
On road improvements, can the minister offer some comfort to the frustrated residents of the west Highlands and Islands and confirm that the proposed upgrading of the hazardous pulpit rock section of the A82 from Tarbet to Crianlarich will be treated with the utmost urgency and will be completed within the next two years at the very latest? I know that the minister is familiar with the route.
I am grateful to Dave Petrie for raising the issue, and I will look into the timetabling questions that he has asked. It is clearly a long-standing issue, and it is important that we bring forward our plans and, more to the point, the contract that will deliver the improvements as quickly as possible. I will look into the matter and write to the member.
Is the minister in a position to share with Parliament the balance of opinion in the submissions to the national transport strategy on the case for dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness? Can he tell me what steps he will take to direct the national transport strategy to support the option? I certainly submitted to it that the case for dualling was robust and should be taken forward as part of the strategy.
I am beginning to think that this question allows any transport question on anywhere in Scotland to be raised, and I applaud Mr Swinney's ability in finding such an opportunity.
Rail Fares (North-east Scotland)
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will regulate rail fares for passengers in the north-east of Scotland in the same way as it does for passengers in Edinburgh and Glasgow. (S2O-10950)
We will shortly review fares policy, including issues relating to fares regulation.
I am sure that the minister is aware that First ScotRail has increased some passenger fares between Aberdeen and Edinburgh by up to 50 per cent. Will he raise the issue with First ScotRail at the earliest opportunity?
I will certainly take the opportunity to raise the point with First ScotRail. Indeed, given the investments that we make in both the franchise and the network, I have already discussed with it the broad relationship between fares and our clear transport policy position of encouraging people to switch from the car to forms of public transport, including Scotland's rail network. I appreciate Mr Rumbles's concern, and I would be happy to take it up with the company.
Age Discrimination
To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are of the new age discrimination laws for skills and training providers. (S2O-10887)
It is the responsibility of individual employers and training providers to ensure that they comply with the legislation. We welcome the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, although it is important to mention that certain age-related practices may continue to be justifiable if they are considered a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
Is the minister aware that Scottish Enterprise local enterprise companies are providing advice to the providers of such training. They are being told in no uncertain terms that the Executive will stick with its age-related funding plans while telling the providers that it is their responsibility to deal with anything that comes up?
Modern apprenticeships are and will continue to be available to people of all ages. Although the enterprise networks support modern apprenticeships for people of all ages in all sectors, the support is divided up according to age. There are three distinct categories: age 16 to 19, age 19 to 25 and age 25 plus. Scottish Enterprise has considered all the legalities and the impact of the legislation on its training programmes. It has consulted closely the Scottish Executive and the Department for Work and Pensions, which will continue to apply a cut-off at the age of 25 under the new deal.
New Forth Crossing
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in the decision-making process about a new crossing for the Forth at North Queensferry. (S2O-10902)
We are taking forward the planning work that must be done if a replacement crossing of the Forth is needed. Therefore, planning is under way through the strategic transport projects review. Five detailed reports have been commissioned and will be completed by next May. The reports will be submitted on 3 November, 30 November, 31 December, 30 April 2007 and 31 May 2007.
I thank the minister for that answer and for the exchange of correspondence in which he has engaged with me. However, I must express genuine frustration and concern on behalf of the people of east-central Scotland, who believe that the minister has done very little work on the matter since he first gave an assurance to Parliament in the spring of this year. The public perception is that he has been dragging his feet and the perception of those who are closest to the coalface is that he has done little or nothing, especially on environmental impact assessment issues and a variety of technical matters. For the well-being of the Scottish economy, it is imperative that a new crossing is considered urgently and with haste.
I gave a full answer on what we are doing. It is now on the record that five reports will be submitted later this year and next year. The work that must be done, regardless of when the decision is taken, is being done. That is what businesses and local people expect. We are talking about a decision that will be of great significance for the Government of the day. In my view, it would be wrong to take a decision now, without doing all the necessary work. Ministers must have the full analysis when they make their decision. As I said in my initial answer, the fact that that analysis is being provided will ensure that the ministers of the day have the full information.
As it is unlikely that we will reach question 9, any member who wished to ask a follow-up to question 9 should do so now.
Does Mr Scott recall that almost a year ago, the First Minister told me that it would be particularly stupid to carry out the work that he has just announced? Does the minister agree that if that work had been carried out a year ago, the decision could have been made this summer instead of next summer? Will he give a commitment that, regardless of which design is chosen, the Executive agrees in principle to the building of a new Forth crossing, thereby ending once and for all the uncertainty for businesses in Fife and the north?
Governments must take decisions on the basis of full information and we are ensuring that the work is being done to allow that to happen. I would have thought that any responsible Opposition would agree with that approach and I am disappointed that the Scottish National Party does not.
I thank the minister for his response to Helen Eadie. It is clear that on both sides of the Forth there is frustration and concern that we should make progress as quickly as possible. I would like an assurance that the report that is being prepared for the minister not only considers the general issues but goes a step further, so that if a decision is taken that a new Forth crossing is required, some of the practical work to address engineering issues—whether for a bridge, a tunnel or whatever—that forms part of the planning that the minister talked about will have been done. There are concerns that we might get another general report, rather than a report that covers some of the hard practical planning to which the minister alluded.
As I said in my answer to Helen Eadie's initial question, one of the pieces of work that is being done, on which a report will be produced before next May, is on the options for a replacement crossing, covering type, form and location. I assure Margaret Smith that that will include the kind of detail that she is looking for. I repeat the somewhat obvious point that no minister or Government could take a decision without the fullest possible analysis of such issues, which is what will be produced.
Does the minister accept that damage is already being done to the Fife economy due to the uncertainty that is being created about the Forth crossing? Although I appreciate that work on the detail needs to continue, businesses throughout Fife and the east of Scotland are looking for a commitment in principle to replace the Forth crossing to ensure that we do not see a meltdown in the east of Scotland economy.
Let us try to keep to a rational, objective assessment of the situation. The difficulty with that argument is that it suggests that Governments should always take a decision in principle and then consider the evidence to see whether the decision should stand. We are doing it the right way round. We are ensuring that the work and planning in all these areas—which members in all parties will acknowledge must be done—is done, to ensure that we take a decision at the right time with the right information. That is what we will do.
I hear what the minister says, but I have to agree with my colleagues that for people in my constituency, the whole of Fife and the wider east of Scotland, the issue is the uncertainty. The reports from the bridgemasters have said that there are issues with the bridge. People, in particular those who rely on haulage going across the bridge, are talking about relocating businesses outwith the Fife economy, which must be a worry for us. If the issues with the bridge remain, I do not see why we cannot have a decision in principle to have a new crossing.
You must ask a question.
What can the minister do to reassure companies in Fife that the situation is being addressed as a matter of urgency and that a decision will be made quickly?
I am not sure what more I can add to the answers that I have already given without repeating exactly what I have said. I appreciate the points about the haulage industry; indeed, we had a fair airing of those points during the Local Government and Transport Committee's debate on these matters a week or so ago. That debate was helpful in allowing us to understand those points fully.
Economic Development (North Ayrshire)
To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on increasing economic development opportunities in North Ayrshire. (S2O-10924)
We place great importance on increasing economic development in North Ayrshire. Along with the local authority, Communities Scotland and other local partners, Scottish Enterprise is making a significant contribution to the North Ayrshire economy. That contribution will be further enhanced by Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire's involvement in the urban regeneration company for Irvine bay and the surrounding area.
I welcome in particular the urban regeneration package, which will assist in upskilling, retraining and bringing much-needed jobs to the local area. Does the minister agree that, in addition to those measures, any strategy on economic development depends on connectivity through social and transport infrastructure? To that end, will the minister discuss with his colleagues additional measures that could be taken, in particular the upgrading of the A737, to support the measures that he has already outlined?
I would be pleased to give that commitment. I agree with the underlying premise in the question, which is that implementing improvements in communications—in this instance, roads infrastructure—is vital to future economic development. That was exemplified in the previous discussion about Fife. Of course, the £26 million three-towns bypass helped to open up North Ayrshire to wider access and greater inward investment. The completion of the Scottish transport appraisal guidance report on the design work for the Dalry bypass will now be taken forward in the context of the strategic roads review that the Minister for Transport referred to.
Justice and Law Officers
Question 1 has been withdrawn, as Phil Gallie is on a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association assignment.
Antisocial Behaviour
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to expand diversionary projects to prevent antisocial behaviour. (S2O-10898)
The local action fund provides £5 million a year to help voluntary sector, sporting and cultural organisations that work with young people to provide interesting and attractive activities as alternatives to antisocial behaviour.
Will the minister discuss with the Minister for Justice, Cathy Jamieson, a recent meeting that she attended in my constituency, at which local people were extremely concerned that not enough diversionary projects are in place for young people? Does the minister agree that we need to monitor the effectiveness of diversionary projects, because we have a small but persistent number of young people whom the criminal justice system is not dealing with effectively? There is great dissatisfaction with the effectiveness of our policies to break the cycle of crime that some young people are trapped in. That is a huge issue for people, not only because of the impact of that behaviour on communities, but because of its effect on the futures of those young people. Will the minister agree to consider the number of diversionary projects in Edinburgh and the number of secure places, so that we can have a comprehensive strategy that gives young people the right kind of support but which also challenges them? That is how we can turn them away from a life of crime.
As Sarah Boyack said, a complex range of issues affect antisocial behaviour. She is right to focus on the need for effective diversionary activities.
Fireworks Act 2003
To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints to the police there have been under the Fireworks Act 2003 and what steps it is taking to stop the sale of fireworks to those aged under 18. (S2O-10948)
The number of firework or bonfire-related incidents reported to police in the period around 5 November was 5,293 in 2003, 4,551 in 2004 and 4,905 in 2005.
I agree with the sentiments that the minister has expressed.
As I said, trading standards officers are already working closely with the police. For safety reasons, we want fireworks to be used responsibly. It is tragic that so many people have been injured by fireworks and that people are put at risk by their irresponsible use. I want to ensure that we do as much as we can, working in co-operation with trading standards officers and our colleagues at Westminster, as some of the issues relating to fireworks are reserved. We have had good co-operation up to now, and I expect that to continue.
Alcohol (Sales to Intoxicated People)
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to customers who are already intoxicated in the Fife region and nationwide in the last three years. (S2O-10943)
In the three financial years from 2003 to 2006, a total of 50 charges of selling alcohol to a drunken person were reported to the procurators fiscal throughout Scotland. Seventeen of those charges resulted in a prosecution and 16 were dealt with by an alternative to prosecution. During that period, one person was prosecuted in Fife.
What additional steps is the Executive taking to counter the culture of binge drinking in Scotland?
The member will be aware of the implementation of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, which presents a completely new framework within which enforcement can take place, especially in relation to the planned prohibition of happy hours and initiatives that may encourage concentrated drinking. We see evidence of such drinking in a number of young people who are accused of crimes or are the victims of crime.
I am pleased to hear the Lord Advocate mention the test purchasing scheme in Fife, which has been successful in my constituency as well.
Procurators fiscal throughout Scotland are working in our communities to raise the profile of all aspects of antisocial behaviour. Indeed, many licensed premises have taken significant steps to train their staff in the health and safety issues that are central to their responsibility not to serve alcohol to persons who may be intoxicated or underage. That responsibility falls squarely on the employers, and failure to comply with the legislation may result in prosecution.
Drink and Drug-driving Arrests (Hamilton and Bellshill)
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were arrested for drink and drug-driving in the Hamilton and Bellshill area during the last festive season. (S2O-10916)
Strathclyde police have advised us that 19 drink-driving or drug-driving crimes were recorded in the Hamilton and Bellshill area between 16 December 2005 and 4 January 2006.
Obviously, the minister will agree that one drink-driving or drug-driving offence is one too many.
I agree that people want to be able to enjoy themselves over the festive period, but we must ensure that our communities are as safe as they can possibly be. A campaign that highlights the consequences and dangers of drink-driving is already under way. It will run throughout the Christmas period and into the early new year.
Reliance
To ask the Scottish Executive what reviews have been undertaken of the record of Reliance in relation to prisoner escapes. (S2O-10886)
A review is conducted every time there is an escape, attempted escape or significant incident.
Is the minister aware that a number of my constituents have been attacked or traumatised by prisoners who have escaped from Reliance's custody? Will she review Reliance's contract and ensure that it is amended, so that individuals who are injured or traumatised by escaped prisoners are appropriately compensated when it can be shown that Reliance has been negligent?
Bruce Crawford has written to me about an incident at Stirling royal infirmary that involved one of his constituents. The local member of Parliament, Gordon Banks, has written to me about the same incident. I understand that Gordon Banks was offered the opportunity to meet Reliance to discuss the incident further, as there is clearly an issue for the company. I am sure that Bruce Crawford can also meet Reliance and that he will want to take up the opportunity to do so.
Youth Courts
To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to make a decision about the extension of the youth court model. (S2O-10954)
A decision on the future of youth courts will be taken soon, and will be based on a final evaluation, which we intend to publish shortly.
I look forward, as the minister does, to the results of the pilot project.
I am sure that the member will take a close interest in the published evaluation.
The latest figures reveal that the Scottish Executive has failed to reach its target of cutting youth crime by 10 per cent. Does the minister now agree that 14 and 15-year-olds—who make up 66 per cent of the total number of persistent young offenders—should be sent to youth courts rather than to children's panels?
We have always said that the possibility exists to involve 15-year-olds in the pilot schemes. The important point is to do what is effective. As people know, I am not happy that we have not had a consistent approach throughout Scotland in dealing with persistent offenders—the small number of people who cause the most grief in communities. Everybody has a responsibility to try to deal with that problem.
Operation Triplicate
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in freezing and seizing the assets of those arrested during the recent operation triplicate police raids. (S2O-10917)
Presiding Officer, the question relates to on-going criminal investigations, therefore you will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for the Crown to comment on these live cases at this stage.
I thank the Solicitor General for Scotland for that answer, and on behalf of the chamber I welcome him here today. [Applause.]
I do not know whether you can add to your previous answer, Solicitor General.
I can say something, Presiding Officer, but first I thank everybody for their generous welcome.
Confiscation of Assets
To ask the Scottish Executive what volume of the assets confiscated from drug dealers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been returned to local communities. (S2O-10949)
Communities the length and breadth of the country have benefited from the national drug dealers don't care campaign, which was funded by £1 million recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and resulted in 175 arrests and the seizure of a total of £1 million in cash and drugs.
That answer is encouraging.
We will continue to consider imaginative ways of ensuring that the communities that are worst affected by drug dealing see some tangible benefits from the assets that are recovered. There is nothing worse for a community than seeing known drug dealers not only persist with their trade but, sometimes after conviction, continue to lead a life of relative luxury. As the Solicitor General outlined, we intend to ensure that such people are punished through proceedings in the criminal courts that affect their luxury lifestyle. We will think imaginatively about how that money will be used. The worst-affected communities can be assured that there will be tangible benefits from the results of police activity and from the tremendous amounts of information that members of the public have provided through Crimestoppers. I thank all the courageous members of the public who have helped to make arrests a reality.
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